Turkey sends militants to Sudan and then into Libyan city of Sirte to join Al Qaeda - Anti-terror agency

Libya captured 16 Nusra Front terrorists smuggled from Syria. "During the interrogation, the militants said that they were sent by plane from Syria to Turkey, and then to Sudan," the Libyan Counter-Terrorism Department said

The Libyan Counter-Terrorism Department on Monday said it detained 16 militants of the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organization who earlier fought in Syria and tried to reach Libya via Sudan.

"During the interrogation, the militants said that they were sent by plane from Syria to Turkey, and then to Sudan. Then they are smuggled into Libya, specifically to Sirte, to join al-Qaeda in Libya which is known as the Shura Council of Fighters, and the Libyan Fighting Group and its political arm the Muslim Brotherhood. One of them said that he was detained by the Syrian army, but was later stolen from prison and sent to Turkey," the department stated.

The interrogation also confirmed that Turkey sends militants to Sudan and then into Libyan city of Sirte to join Al Qaeda in Libya, the press release said.

The department requested the Libyan Foreign Ministry to file a complaint to the UN Security Council in relation to the incident.

Jabhat al-Nusra is a branch of Al Qaeda in Syria and Iraq.

Libya has been suffering from a war since 2011, when long-standing leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown. Ever since, two rival governments have been struggling for control over the country, while terror groups have seized sizable portions of the country only to be repelled in 2016.